LAS VEGAS – Second seeded San Diego State faced off against the top seeded Aggies for the Mountain West Tournament Championship. The two programs exchanged the lead nine times across the two halves with the Aztecs falling just short by a final score of 73-62.
In the first frame of play neither team could pull away with the Aggies largest lead reaching six points. Miles Byrd opened the scoring with a steal and layup quickly followed by a Reese Dixon-Waters step back jump shot. Utah would eventually lead by six with just under seven minutes to play before consecutive threes by Dixon-Waters and Byrd evened the score. A Taj DeGourville layup with 44 seconds left gave the Aztecs a one-point advantage heading into the break. Dixon-Waters carried the SDSU offense with 12 points on 5-of-6 shooting. The duo of Magoon Gwath and Miles Byrd anchored the Aztec’s defense with a combined 11 first half rebounds while scoring seven points apiece.
Utah State rallied early in the second half behind a quick seven-point scoring run. The Aztec’s responded with seven consecutive points with 14 minutes left in the half to take the lead back. After another run of lead changes, the Aggies were able to hold off San Diego State down across the final seven minutes to secure a 73-62 victory.
Dixon-Waters posted a game high 20 points while converting 67 percent of his shots. It was his sixth 20-point effort of the season. Gwath almost managed a double-double with 12 points and eight rebounds, including five on the offensive side of the ball. Lastly, BJ Davis once again eclipsed double figures in scoring with 14 points while shooting 50 percent from the field.
UP NEXT
The Aztecs head back to San Diego with twenty-two victories including a stellar 14-2 record inside Viejas Arena. Head coach Brian Dutcher and the team will await a potential postseason assignment in the coming days.